Introducing LARRY and MO....

Ian got his hearing aids last Wednesday. He has named them "Larry and Mo". His hearing aids are pretty sophisticated... they can be programmed for a classroom environment to tune out surrounding noise and if the teacher uses a microphone his hearing aids will pick it up and it will be like he is being taught one on one with the teacher. Larry and Mo are programmed to Ian's specific hearing loss and as time goes on and they are able to gather more information from Ian through hearing tests they will be programmed even more specifically to Ian's needs. I am so excited for Ian! He will need a speech evaluation to determine whether he will need some speech therapy or if he can catch up on his own with regard to being able to pronounce words more clearly. Anyhow, things are going well! We have been so blessed!

Bryce and Ian Singing....

So, I have been trying to teach the boys some primary songs. Bryce and Ian both enjoy singing, however Ian has a harder time because he doesn't always hear all the words or rather the sounds that the words make and thus has a difficult time singing the songs correctly. Nevertheless, they both really love to sing their hearts out and I video taped them singing the latest song I've taught them. I make them sing it when they are being obnoxious and mean to one another.

Fun Pics....

This would be Spencer enduring a breathing treatment. I had to give him breathing treatments every six hours for about five days. He was not a happy camper! I'm just glad that it did the job and helped him breathe easier! Not fun to have a sick kiddo!

Mike celebrated his birthday in March. He's in his 30's somewhere and no we didn't have enough candles to put on his cake. I'm sure the cake would have been set ablaze had we had enough. LOL! He's a good sport. I just love teasing him about being older than me. Which isn't hard to do especially since I'm only 25 and will be for the rest of my life! LOL! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Who knew a blue storage container could provide hours of senseless entertainment for my boys???!!! They had a blast cramming themselves into this container and insisted that I take pictures of them enjoying themselves! Funny thing is that Ian had the hardest time fitting inside it, I think the big head was the problem.

Here's Bryce taking his turn.....

And little Spencer who actually started this little game.....Funny boy!

Grandma and Grandpa are here....

So Grandma and Grandpa arrived on Wednesday. It was so funny, for about a week leading up to their arrival we kept telling the boys that Grandma and Grandpa were coming for a visit. Bryce was so excited and Ian had the complete opposite reaction! He kept telling us that he didn't want them here. Mike and I laughed because his reaction was very forceful and a little shocking coming from a kid who loves his grandparents. Anyhow, we determined that he associates them being here with his hospitalizations. I suspect he thought he would have to go back to the hospital. Fortunately, he has warmed right up to them and I don't think he's worried anymore about a return stay at Primary Children's.

I'm so grateful that the boys get the opportunity to know their grandparents! Mike's parents are the best. They really enjoy the boys and genuinely want to spend time with them. Of course it's been nice from my perspective to have some adult company during the day while Mike is away working a 12 hour + day. I sure hope their visit doesn't go by too fast!

Snot, coughs, and puke OH MY!!!!!

It's been while since I've posted anything. Lest I bore the reader with the monotony of my life and all the little trials that keep happening, I thought I would just wait until I had something exciting and fun to share. Well I realized last night, that it was likely going to be awhile before I posted anything if I waited for something spectacular to share.

On March 11, Ian had another sedated ABR (brain stem hearing test). Turns out he has moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears. BIG SHOCK right? Not really, I expected it... I am hoping that it means plenty of the chemo drugs made it to the brain. LOL! Lately I have noticed that Ian doesn't speak as clearly and he doesn't hear me if his back is turned, or if there is a lot of back ground noise....and frequently he asks "What did you say?" Nevertheless, if I speak directly to him and in an even tone, he understands what I am saying. On March 17, we went to the Primary Children's Rehab Annex in Bountiful to have Ian fitted for his hearing aids. He picked out a red and blue swirl colors for the actual in the ear piece and red for the hearing aid that goes behind the ear. He is really excited about his hearing aids. We are scheduled to pick them up on April 8. The funny thing is that we have been talking to Ian about them and getting him excited about them, and now Bryce wants a pair. When we tell him that he doesn't need hearing aids, he gets sad. With any luck he'll earn himself a pair of glasses when he gets older, if he's inherited my poor eyesight!

A week ago today Mike took Bryce to the ER at Davis Hospital. Turns out he had a double ear infection. First one ever! I could not get a same day appointment at the Hill AFB clinic. That is a whole other story in itself!!! Three days later I took Spencer to the ER because I couldn't an appointment on base. He ended up being admitted over night because his o2 Sats were in the 80's. They did a chest x-ray and determined that he has bronchitis possibly going into pneumonia. GREAT! So the last few days he's been on breathing treatments, an antibiotic, and an oral steroid. The doctor believes that because of his "premature" birth, ( I should say lungs) , that he will most likely develop asthma. Through all of this Ian has remained the healthiest, and yet even he has a cold with a cough. When we took Ian for his hearing test at Primary Children's, we went as a family, and Mike was being a little more relaxed about where Spencer and Bryce played (to include letting them crawl and play on the floor....YUCK). Anyhow, no doubt that is how everyone picked up all the bugs they came home with. Two days after the hearing tests Ian was throwing up and sick. It lasted 5 days. Mike understands a little better now why I am so hard core about not letting the boys touch whatever they want and about all the hand sanitizing.

So now that everyone seems to be on the mend, we are hoping for some nice weather so that we can get out and do something! We all have cabin fever! On a lighter note, I just have to share some funny things that Spencer is doing. He loves to get on the trike or other riding toys and actually knows how to propel himself around the house. It is so cute! He's only 14 months old and doing such big boy things! Another thing he loves to do is open the dishwasher door, pull it down and climb up on top and sit while pulling out the dirty or clean silverware for me. He's loves it! He makes it an actual challenge to do the dishes. Funny boy! We are really so grateful to have him in our family! Such a little charmer!

The coming month is going to be so busy! Ian is scheduled for a brain and spine MRI, and EccoCardiogram (sp?), a Lumbar Puncture, and a clinic visit. Of course my anxiety levels are on the rise ...... AGAIN. I know it will be alright. I'll just be glad to have it all over and another three months of peace before it happens again. I think the part that I dislike the most is having him sedated all the time. Also, things should be easier too, Grandma and Grandpa Jackson are coming to be with us for the whole month. We're all exicited about their visit. They have been gone since the end of November and so much time has passed. We're so lucky to have their love and support!

Home Depot Kids Workshop...

Mike and I discovered, by accident, that Home Depot sponsors a Kids Workshop once a month. They provide the kids with a work apron and they can earn a pin to put on their apron for every workshop they complete. Well Bryce has been a couple times now and Ian went for the first time this month. Mike and the boys arrived a little early, the workshop begins at 10am here and so they spent the time walking around home depot looking at power tools and other such manly stuff. Mike said he had a blast with them. He said that both Bryce and Ian would imitate his every move and repeat whatever he said. For instance, he was walking with the boys down the lumbar isle, checking out wood for a future project. He would tell the boys what type of wood he was looking at and them tell them to smell it...the boys would smell it and then lovingly run their hands across it... Mike had to warn them about splinters... though it did little to deter them. LOL! Mostly, Mike said he just enjoyed watching the boys get excited about things that caught their fancy and he enjoyed showing them how things worked.

At any rate this week the boys built pine wood derby tracks and were given little cars to race on them. They had the best time, and even slept with the cars and tracks that night! Next month it's bird houses. Should be fun!

I and Spencer, spent a very enjoyable hour or so at the HUGE JoAnn fabrics store right behind home depot. I should just call it what it is, an hour of torture! LOL! I could spend hours in there looking at everything I can't afford to buy! Nevertheless, Spencer and I had our own fun! What's more I get to do it at least once a month, when it's Home Depot Kids Workshop day. I'm a glutton for punishment. The only thing that could make it more fun would be to have a friend with me who can appreciate all the wonders of JoAnn's..... any volunteers????

Here is sweet Spencer after a long morning of "torture"! Enjoying his favorite lunch....hot dogs!

Ian showing off his Kids Workshop Apron....

Here are the boys trying to eat lunch and play with their pine wood derby tracks at the same time... take coordination...hahahahaha!

Bryce getting his tracks ready!

Sweet brothers after a very FUN morning!

Speaking in Church This Sunday....

I suppose I could wait until after Sunday to post a blog on this topic and yet I need to vent about it now. Our first Sunday back to church with Ian, we went to the bishop's office so that I could be set apart for my new calling. I should have known we would be asked to speak in sacrament. That in and of itself isn't bad, we are all asked to speak at some point or another. The part I am struggling with is the topic.

The only guidelines we were given is to have be based on the last year of our lives. Am I wrong to want to speak on something more "normal"? Like say baptism, or temple work? I guess I am just so ready to move on from last year, even though we still have a bit to go... By no means am I angry or mad... more than anything I feel a huge weight, like somehow I am supposed to be this example of strength, fortitude and somehow know all the secrets to being faithful, trusting, enduring and have the power to now walk on water. I feel unworthy of the praise and admiration of our bishop. I don't want to let anyone down. Truthfully, I don't believe Mike and I have done anything miraculous. We love our son, we love our family and we love the gospel and our Savior. Most people we know, feel the same way. So what makes us the authority on being strong through adversity? We certainly don't have a monopoly on suffering and despair or adversity.

I have written my talk, and I will be speaking on faith in adversity and enduring to the end. I feel pretty good about the topic choice... I pray Heavenly Father helps me say the things that he wants them to hear. Mostly I am grateful for the chance I have to study and learn as I prepare to speak on Sunday.